Abbott's Betrayal of Australian Muslims: We are Right to Expect Better
 

On 23 February 2015 Prime Minister Tony Abbot delivered a national security statement, outlining his concerns and proposed measures against radicalisation and terrorism.

While I, and all the Muslim leaders that I know, agree that radicalisation and violent extremism are immoral, unethical and contravene the basic principles of Islam, we were appalled at the PM's statement: "I've often heard Western leaders describe Islam as a 'religion of peace'. I wish more Muslim leaders would say that more often, and mean it."

This type of rhetoric is factually wrong, morally problematic and strategically inexplicable. It also reeks of political opportunism.

It is factually erroneous because I and many Muslim leaders and scholars in Australia and overseas have been working tirelessly since the tragic events of 11 September 2001 to advocate Islam's message of peace, acceptance and tolerance. We have unequivocally condemned terrorism, violent radicalisation and extremism in mosques, youth centres, public forums and whenever we get the chance to speak to the media.

The Council of Imams across Australia, the Australian National Imams Council, the Australian Federation of Islamic Council and many other Islamic organisation and societies conveyed this message again and again. Leading Islamic scholars and organisations from across the world have done the same. All one needs to do is read, for example, the recent Letter to Baghdadi, the Head of the "Islamic State" death cult, signed by hundreds of Muslim leaders and scholars worldwide to see what I mean.
 

I have personally delivered the message of Islam's total rejection of violent extremism, its zero tolerance towards injustice and criminality, and its acceptance of diverse faith expressions to thousands of people. This is no exaggeration. In fact, I cannot recall a day of rest since 9/11 due to the constant requests from Islamic and wider Australian communities to create awareness, build bridges of understanding and counter the ideology of violent extremism.

I have spoken across Australia, in cities and towns, in churches and mosques, universities and schools. And I (like many other Muslim leaders) have engaged extensively with the youth of our communities in order to equip them with the necessary knowledge to counteract any ideology that might seek to radicalise them, marginalise them, or make them hate "the other." I have not done so because of some kind of political opportunism or mere functionalism, but because I believe that this is what Islam teaches and endorses, and I, along with many other Muslim scholars, have the necessary knowledge to back it up with textual evidence.

For example, a fundamental part of my discourse, and that of many leading Muslim scholars, is that justice is absolute and not relative - that is, regardless of race, gender, skin colour or faith, justice must not be compromised. In a recent Friday sermon at the Kuraby Mosque in Brisbane, I spoke about this and emphasised that absolute justice also demands that, even during a state of war, Muslim patriotic motivations cannot be used to sacrifice Islam's insistence on justice and the rule of law. And that the Qur'an demands that hatred of others must not come in the way of justice (Qur'an 5:8).

I, and other Muslim leaders, have extensively engaged with various government departments and they know that this is what we advocate. So it baffles me that the Prime Minister would seem ignorant of this most basic fact. Was it because those who engage with the Muslim community fail to inform him of this, or was it pure political opportunism on his part, given that his popularity was in decline and there was talk of a leadership challenge? Was he using the Muslim community as a scapegoat?

Regardless of whether the PM was deliberately ignoring the facts, his statement speaks volumes about his (and that of others in the media and politics) failure to offer the Muslim community the most basic procedural fairness. It is immoral, to say the least, to use terrorism and violent radicalisation to demonise, vilify, marginalise, humiliate and unfairly criticize Islam and all Muslims because of the actions of a few.

Procedural fairness is simply the equitable treatment that one might expect to receive from decision makers. Whether it is the police or the Prime Minister, procedural fairness is essential when dealing with the Australian Muslim community.

In its most basic form, it means that respect and dignity would be accorded to the Islamic community, that they would enjoy a degree of neutrality where matters that affect them are concerned, that they would be allowed to speak on their own behalf, and that decision makers should have their best interest at heart.

This is not only a moral obligation, it makes strategic sense if the government is serious about combating terrorism. A failure to follow the basic rules of procedural fairness will only serve to further marginalise those already marginalised, and will alienate those who have engaged with the government.

The Prime Minister's message only succeeded in creating deeper suspicion toward him and his government on the part of Muslims. His ill-advised statements fuelled anger, legitimated terrorists' claims that "the West" is against "Islam" and made it immeasurably more difficult for Muslim leaders to counter radical ideology.
 

Protecting Australian society is a responsibility incumbent on all Australians. It requires wisdom, prudence, equity, education, and the willingness to place the common good before our personal or political agendas. We have the right to expect more from our elected leaders than what we heard from the Prime Minister last week.

Mohamad Abdalla is an Associate Professor in Islamic Studies at Griffith University, a community leader and the Head of Religious Affairs at the Kuraby Mosque in Brisbane.
 

Source: ABC Religion & Ethics

Muslim activist takes Tony Abbott to task over comments
 

Prominent activist Tasneem Chopra says Australian Muslim women are being terrorised as Tony Abbott verbally aligns Islamic State militants with their community.

The chairperson of the Northcote-based Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights is delivering the annual Molly Hadfield Social Justice Oration.

She is using the speech marking International Women’s Day, on March 8, to highlight social injustice towards Australia’s Muslim community.

“What you’re actually seeing is this divisive us-and-them narrative that’s been spouted by leaders where Muslims are continually put on the back foot and considered to be outsiders,” Ms Chopra said.
 

“Specifically the comments made by the Prime Minister that fail to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of the Australian Muslim community, I find disingenuous and dishonest.

“This constant denial of the civic contribution, the historical contribution that Muslims have made to this country is whitewashed and they are constantly seen as the other, the migrant, the misfit.”

Ms Chopra said the comments were exposing Australian Muslims to attacks.

“They’re effectively putting at risk the very social harmony they’re purporting to protect,” she said. “We’ve had women in the community who have been spat on, sworn at, shoved, pushed off trains, bashed, everything [including] death threats.”

Ms Chopra said Australia’s Muslims were constantly being told to condemn terrorism, when they already were.


“The link between Muslims and terrorism is nothing to do with religion and everything to do with political ideology.”

Ms Chopra will also discuss how the disempowerment of women through power, political and economic structures is compounded with settlement, language proficiency and discrimination issues for migrant women.

She said the government has a “warped” sense of priorities in its expenditure towards fighting terrorism compared to family violence.

“Women are being assaulted and killed at an unprecedented rate,” she said.

The oration is to honour Molly Hadfield’s deep commitment to social justice. The late Thornbury resident fought for public housing, seniors and women’s rights, public education, community health and peace.
 

Source: The Weekly Review

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Bringing together a balance of spiritual, emotional, physical and mental health education, the Prophetic Health Workshop, hosted by Muslim Aid Australia, was held at Griffith University yesterday (Saturday) focusing on a holistic Islamic approach to health and well-being.

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Islamic Museum of Australia has raised over 1.95 million dollars at a gala dinner held on Sat 28 February, marking the first anniversary of its opening last year.

The Melbourne based Islamic Museum of Australia (IMA), the first and only of its kind in Australia has welcomed over 9000 visitors since it opened in February 2014, with almost half the patrons coming from an interfaith background.

The museum displays a variety of Islamic art including architecture, calligraphy, paintings, glass and textiles and has a number of interactive workshops and spaces with a main emphasis on Islam in the Australian context, looking at historical and modern influences.

The Saudi Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, Nabil bin Mohammed Al Saleh announced that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia donated $1 Million in financial support to the IMA.

The Attorney General and Minister for the Arts, Senator George Brandis and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop announced that “The Australian Government will contribute $500,000 to IMA to develop a new arts and culture education program to build social cohesion and cross cultural understanding”.

The national education program will aim to promote understanding amongst children and the general public about Islam in Australia, through the Museum’s collection of Islamic art and culture.

Such education programs would help build stronger communities by promoting understanding of different cultural beliefs and traditions, and develop a stronger appreciation of the positive contribution that different cultures would make to the rich fabric of Australian society.

The Australian Government’s continued support for the Islamic Museum of Australia is part of the ongoing strategy to promote and celebrate Australia’s diversity through the proud expression of art and culture.”

The Andrews Labor government of Victoria will provided a $450, 000 grant to the IMA’s educational program, which works to look at improving cross-cultural awareness and understanding about Islam and to celebrate a positive Australian Muslim identity.

Robin Scott MP, Victorian Minister for Multicultural Affairs, said “The Islamic Museum of Australia plays an important role in educating the community about Islam, its long and rich influence on art and culture, and the story of Muslims in Australia.” In his speech at the gala dinner, Robin Scott said “The Museum plays an important role in educating the community about Islam, its rich influence on art and culture, and the story of Muslims in Australia.”

The event was attended by a number of federal and state politicians, community leaders, entertainers, IMA staff and the general public.

Special guests and performers included Jon Faine, presenter of mornings on 774 ABC Melbourne, Maysaa Fahour, Islamic Museum of Australia Chairperson, Ahmed Fahour, CEO & MD of Australia Post, Nazeem Hussain, Comedian and Star of TV Show Legally Brown, Zohab Khan, Australian Poetry Slam Champion and The Brothahood, Internationally acclaimed Hip-Hop Group.

Also speaking at the event were foreign minister Julie Bishop, leader of the opposition Bill Shorten (read speech), Victorian Minister for Multicultural Affairs Robin Scott and the Saudi Ambassador Nabil bin Mohammed Al Saleh.

Second-generation Australian and IMA Founder and Director, Mr Moustafa Fahour, was this year awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his contribution to the Museum and to the wider Australian society.

In their media release, IMA said “A big thank you to all who attended our Annual IMA Fundraising Gala Dinner 2015. The performers were amazing and the special speakers were just superb and heartfelt. Thank you for the generous pledges and donations towards our centre."

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“This is all about helping my people, specifically white Christians, learn how to see difference, embrace it, and engage with it,”

Jessey Eagan, a married Christian mother of two, has decided to wear a hijab for Lent in an attempt to remind herself “what it feels like to be an outsider”.
“See, we lived in Amman, Jordan about 7 years ago where we ended up teaching at an Islamic school,” she told BuzzFeed News.

“While we were there we met many Muslims and built great personal friendships with them. And living in a culture where I stuck out like a sore thumb, I personally know what it can feel like to be an outsider, and I wanted to remind myself of that, so that I can better love all people, no matter what they look like.”
 

In her blog, the children’s director at her church in Peoria, Illinois, wrote about a Muslim friend’s response to her idea to wear a hijab, and how it spurred her on:
Before I fully explain my reasoning, let me tell you how I came to the decision. I told my husband my idea and he encouraged me to do it, but I decided that I needed to ask a local Muslim friend her thoughts on it. She wears hijab for many reasons, I’m sure, but one is identification with her Muslim community. I wanted to make sure that I would not be disrespecting or offending the Muslim community, so I asked her opinion. Her response was this,

“You are a very thoughtful person full of great ideas…I don’t see a reason why people get offended by a very thoughtful, nice, and peaceful act. Our role is teach and educate all people and I’m 100% in support of this idea…My hijab drawer is yours come and pick what u like. If u don’t have time I can bring them to u, just let me know what colors.”

How great is that? I met her at the Islamic school this morning to pick up the scarves and she helped me put on my first hijab for the Lenten season.

She says that her main goal for this project is to encourage other people, especially Christians, to look beyond appearances and remember Christianity’s teachings about love.

“Jesus said to love our neighbors, strangers, and enemies. I think this is something that is not often taken seriously by many Christians,” she told BuzzFeed News. “We are so influenced by the media, that we allow fear to take over, and forget to love. Fear is the opposite of love.”

One thing Eagan says she hopes to do next is use make-up to “darken” her complexion and “go out into the community.”

“My friend told me that white Muslims and brown Muslims have different experiences, as do black Muslims, within the Islamic community as well as in the community at large,” she said. “This is all about helping my people, specifically white Christians, learn how to see difference, embrace it, and engage with it. That’s what hospitality does. It welcomes people who were once outsiders into a community with love and the desire to understand.”

When asked what lesson she felt would be learned, that could not have been gleaned from a Muslim woman who wears a hijab, Eagan said she felt it was more important to experience it “first hand.”

“I wanted to see what my friends’ public lives are like, how they experience my community differently from me,” she said.

“It is likely, I think, that my friends would tell me many positive things and avoid speaking negatively, either about their experience or why they wear the hijab,” Eagan added. “I also wouldn’t get to understand my own prejudices towards people, which has come out at least twice.”

Eagan said she expected people “wearing cammo or driving big trucks” to threaten her, but that she’s been “proven wrong each time.”


Eagan insists the reaction to her project has been very positive from people in her community.

She described one interaction she had with a friend in her local area: “Yesterday at church a woman, whom I have known for quite a long time, came up to me and said, ‘Jessey, I wanted to let you know that I have been reading your blog and I am so proud of you and what you are doing. Before reading your blog, I never would have even made eye contact with someone wearing hijab. But I was at an event the other day where I saw a Muslim woman and I did make eye contact with her’.

“How great is that? Such a small gesture for her to make, and at the same time it was a huge step for her.”


She’s now on day 18. You can follow her updates here.
 
 

Source: Buzz Feed

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The Australian Defence Force is set to get its first Muslim Imam as part of a push to attract more recruits from different cultural and language backgrounds.

Assistant Defence Minister Stuart Robert (pictured left) announced on Monday he was asking Defence to "renew efforts" on recruiting a more "culturally and linguistically diverse workforce".

Part of this is to find an Imam – an Islamic religious leader – to serve on the ADF's religious advisory committee, which provides advice to the force on policies to meet its personnel's spiritual needs.

"I have asked my department to move as quickly as possible to identify a part-time Islamic Imam to join the ADF's religious advisory committee to ensure those 96 ADF members of an Islamic faith have appropriate representation," Mr Robert said in a speech to Parliament.

The part-time Imam will join one Jewish and five Christian religious leaders who make up the committee. He will serve in a policy advisory role – a first for the ADF – but will not provide pastoral care as do Christian Chaplains in the force.

About 5.7 percent of the ADF's 57,000-strong permanent force identify as coming from a non-English speaking background. About 5.4 percent were born overseas in countries other than New Zealand, Britain, Canada and the US.

Mr Robert said progress on cultural diversity within the ADF needed to happen more quickly.

"It is clear the growth of a culturally and linguistically diverse workforce, that represents the changing face of modern Australia, is moving too slowly," Mr Robert said. "This is going to change."

He said there would also be a "dedicated recruitment strategy" to target sections of the community from which soldiers, sailors and airmen and women are not typically drawn.

Mr Robert stressed this was not about appearances or "social engineering" but rather was vital to making the ADF a better fighting force.

"This strategy … is born out of the stark reality that combat power will be enhanced," he said.

It would help Defence engage with neighbours in the Asia-Pacific region as well as overseas partners such as the United Nations and NATO, and also in operations such as peacekeeping and disaster relief, he said.

"As modern military operations evolve, there will be a growing requirement for greater interaction with, and understanding of, different cultures."

A similar previous example was the ADF's "female engagement teams" deployed in Afghanistan, where its members could talk to local women about how to improve their lives, which was a critical part of that mission, he said.

Defence had previously successfully used personnel who spoke Ukrainian, Chinese and Japanese in recent operations and exercises.
 
Source: Brisbane Times

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SCHOOLS considered at high risk of a terrorist attack or ethnic violence will receive taxpayer-funded security guards and cameras.

JUSTICE Minister Michael Keenan will announce the new $18 million program at a Sydney school on Monday. It's designed to help 54 schools keep their students safe.
 

It's the first time the federal government has paid for security guards at schools.
Half the schools are Islamic and Jewish, 29 are in NSW and 15 are in Victoria.
 

Mr Keenan said there was no specific threat against any school, but the government was being proactive.
 

"This is a confidence-building measure," he said, while making the announcement at Al Zahra College in Sydney.
 

The 54 schools chosen came after a competitive process in which 210 were invited to take part and 98 applications were received.
 

"I feel very confident that we've made the correct judgment," Mr Keenan said.
While schools could use the money for CCTV and improved lighting, funding for security guards was an important piece of the puzzle, he said.
 

Source: News.com

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Sydney, Australia – The Australian Muslim community in Sydney is set to get its first aged care facility that will specifically cater for the needs of the elderly Muslim community. The Muslim owned and managed Rahma Aged Care facility is a $20 million project that will be built next to the iconic Gallipoli Mosque in the western Sydney suburb of Auburn. The project is not due to be completed till 2017 and a major fundraiser is being held this weekend to help raise funds and awareness of the project.

MuslimVillage.com interviewed Ibrahim Hammoud, a Director of Rahma Aged Care about the project.

Why the need for a Muslim aged care facility?
Over the years, there has been a growing realisation that the Muslim community in Australia faces challenges in terms of the care preferences and needs of its older members. Factors such as migration, changes in lifestyles, changes in family structures as well as other compelling factors may overstretch the ability of many Muslim families to look after their loved ones in their homes.
 

Residential aged care, in general, therefore, becomes a complex issue for those Muslims who try to observe their faith; it is very important for them, to the extent possible, to be able to continue a lifestyle that follows the tenets of Islam even when they become old and frail.
 

Since there is no aged care facility that caters to Muslims in Sydney, it is deemed imperative that steps are taken so that older Muslims can have a credible choice in terms of aged care services and facilities that meet their requirements as dictated by their cultural, religious and spiritual beliefs. It is in this context that Gallipoli Health Services Limited (“GHS”), a not-for-profit company, has been established to meet this demand.
 

What’s the current and anticipated demand for aged care beds in the Australian Muslim community in Sydney?
There is currently a need for more than 360 residential aged care places in NSW for communities with an Islamic background. Most of these people will seek a culturally/religious specific service. We have demonstrated to the Department of Social Services that Auburn is the predominant region for Islamic CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) communities in NSW by virtue of the location of one of the largest and most recognisable places of worship as well as being the home to the largest and most diverse Islamic CALD demographic.
 

There are currently no facilities that provide aged care services specifically to people of an Islamic background. The Department of Social Services has recognised the 360 place shortfall for the Islamic demographic and is actively working with us to meet the demand.
 

There are 4090 Islamic persons aged 70+ in NSW in 2011 for whom there is no culturally specific residential aged care service (Benchmark @ 88 places per 1,000 aged 70+ equates to 360 places). Of these, 1178 (28.8%) are in Western Sydney (our area) and 1,168 (28.6%) in the adjoining South West Sydney area.
 

Furthermore, almost 50% of all Australian Muslims reside in NSW and 48% of all Australia-born Muslims claim Lebanese or Turkish ancestry (Census 2011). Other Major immigrant groups from countries with significant Muslim minorities are India (13% Muslim); Philippines (5% Muslim) and Greek (1.3% Muslim). Of all Australian persons affiliating with Islam in 2006 almost 9% were born in Lebanon and 7% were born in Turkey.
 

What’s the difference between what you are proposing with Rahma and any other aged care facility?
The Rahma Aged Care facility is a purpose designed facility to meet the specific cultural and religious requirements of Muslim residents. The design committee has worked extensively to ensure that the final design meets these requirements.

Examples include, beds facing the Qibla, toilet facing away from the Qibla, prayer rooms, residential clusters to allow for segregation, Islamic themed decor etc.
 

From an operational point of view, the staff will be drawn from the many different cultures that make up the Islamic community. This is critical as there is no point in promoting Rahma as an CALD/Islamic facility if the staff responsible for the provision of care do not speak the language or understand the religious and spiritual requirements of the residents.
 

Additionally, there will be an Islamic centric basis of care incorporated into the ‘principles of care’. The directors and staff will consult with a Shura of scholars to ensure that care meets Islamic principles. Finally, from an activities point of view there will be visiting scholars that will visit residents to provide Qur’an and religious lessons on the communal level and support on the individual level.
 

Can you share with us some more details about the project?
The total cost of construction has been assessed by a quantity surveyor at $20,000,000. The Australian Federal government via the Department of Social Services has granted $10,000,000 toward the cost of construction. The remaining $10,000,000 is being sought from the community as well as the realisation of other assets. There has also been an approval for an allocation of 95 government funded aged care places with A$5,605,000 in annual funding once Rahma Aged Care is operational.
 

The site is comprised of 7 residential properties (3,700sqm approx.) that will be amalgamated to form the area required for the facility. These properties have been acquired by the Auburn Gallipoli Association over the last 30 years and are un-encumbered.
 

The building is accommodated over three levels that will be connected through a central courtyard/light well – the transparency of the courtyard strengthens the visual connection between the common areas and the Mosque which will act as a reference for community engagement. The courtyard will flow from the main reception and lounge as well a variety of planned communal facilities such as a cafe; village shop; wellness centre and a hairdresser.
 

The site is less than 900m from the local train and bus stations; Western Motorway; and the shopping precinct, affording residents seamless transit and recreational options amongst multicultural cafes and restaurants. The site is within close proximity to the Auburn Hospital and a comprehensive range of nearby services for the aged: psychologists, podiatrists, physiotherapists, optometrists, pharmacists and hearing specialists. Parkland reserves and the Auburn Botanical Gardens are nearby as is the Auburn library with books and other materials in a range of languages including Turkish and Arabic.
 

Double rooms for couples; spacious rooms, some with kitchenettes, to accommodate and host visitors; shelving for the Quran, prayer beads and other items; hand held shower nozzles for the washing of feet and to facilitate pre prayer ablution; and space to lay a prayer mat are features for resident comfort. Privacy features include private en-suites (configured so the toilet does not face Mecca – the direction of prayer) separate men’s and woman’s prayer rooms; and lockable storage in the bedroom. Wide corridors; grab rails; electronic beds; lift access; storage areas for mobility devices to reduce clutter; and flat, spacious grounds will foster mobility.
 

What management structure does Rahma Aged Care have in place?
The Board of Rahma Aged Care currently consists of Dr Abdurrahman Asaroglu, Dr Yusuf Bulbulia Mrs Nihal Uckan and myself. Additionally, there will be a Sharia advisory committee made up from local scholars to ensure adherence to Islamic principles of care. Rahma Aged Care had to obtain approval from the Department of Social Services for all key personnel including directors, the project manager and the architectural firm.
 

To date the board has engaged with the community through information and consultation sessions. This will continue through to the realisation of the project. As part of the operations, there will also be a residents committee made up of residents and their representatives that will ensure that staff are made aware of any issues.
We have worked very closely with the Department of Social Services and throughout the period of construction and need to submit quarterly audited reports. Additionally, once the facility commences operations, an annual audit is conducted by the Department to ensure the 44 accreditation KPI’s are being achieved.
 

When is Rahma Aged Care going to be operational?
Commencement of building works is planned to commence in July 2015 with the first admission of residents planned for January 1 2017.
 

Are you co-operating with the aged care project planned by the Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA) in Lakemba?
The Gallipoli Mosque Association and the LMA have been working closely together throughout the process. The fact that the community needs to meet the demand of 360 places means we need multiple facilities. The similarities between the two projects has meant that there are many synergies that have been utilised to advance the LMA AMAN project. The Gallipoli Mosque Association and the LMA are also working together on a joint initiative to provide aged care certificate courses to ensure that the facilities are staffed by members of the community that the residents will be coming from.
 

Will Raham Aged Care cater only for the Australian Turkish community and will non Muslims be able to also use the facilities?
The case made and accepted by the Department of Social Services was that this will be a facility to provide for the entire Islamic community, regardless of ethnicity or cultural background. Besides that there isn’t sufficient demand to fill 100 beds from a single CALD group – whether Turkish or otherwise. There is a process of assessment by aged care assessment teams prior to the admission of a resident. Admission will be based on a first come, first served basis irrespective of cultural background.
 

As for Non Muslims, the facility cannot legally discriminate against prospective residents based on either a cultural or religious disposition. However, with the staged commencement of operations over 18 months to achieve capacity, it is expected that the facility will be comprised of Muslim residents. This is based on the expected transfer of many Muslim residents from other facilities based on our research.
 

When is the fundraiser and why is it important for the community to get behind this project?
Date: Saturday, 28th February at 7pm
Location: Renaissance – Lidcombe
More infö here: http://www.rahmaagedcare.com.au
 

We should all support new initiatives that result in the self-reliance of the Australian Islamic community. It is based on this core belief that we aim to revive the Sunnah of Awqaf with our core mission to:
‘Lead a better life for our communities and ultimately contribute to the improvement of the socio-economic conditions of the Muslim Ummah’
 

Many respected Sheikhs have made the point of the community’s responsibility to provide Islamic-centric social services as a Fard Kifaya. Each member is responsible for the welfare of every other member – one body. It is not Islamically appropriate for those that say that we will take care of our parents when they may have the means – financial or otherwise – to do so. As Hajj Hoblos said in his promotional video for the fundraiser, we need to be responsible and provide for those that are not as lucky.

Source: Muslim Village

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Mustafa is a former Jehovah's Witness. In this short interview, he shared how be discovered Islam and how it changed his life.

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With concern over the deteriorating political situation of the Australian Muslim community over the past year, Dr Daud Batchelor, a political analyst, whose "grandfathers and father fought to protect Australia’s security" presents a personal discourse on the current situation:

 

 

 

 

As Australia’s international standing has risen, the country’s sovereignty is being dangerously subsumed by the United States, itself controlled by the disproportionately influential military-industrial complex and Zionist lobbies. It is being compromised by the political elite within the ruling Liberal Party and Labour Party caucus. Former PM Malcolm Fraser presciently warned that we “have effectively ceded to America the ability to decide when Australia goes to war”.
External threats facing Australia include commercial takeover of critical resources.

 

The second is inordinate influence by the US, our “friendly” ally under ANZUS. Evidence suggests some US covert involvement in removing former PMs Whitlam and Rudd. Near neighbours, Indonesia and Malaysia have no expansionist aims but Australia increased its ‘defence’ budget 32% since 2003 and is targeting 2% GDP. Fighting distant wars of questionable merit and overinflating domestic terrorism sucks funds from needy domestic programmes and puts Australia into debt paralleling the United States.

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A decade-long national study has found that nearly 50 per cent of Australians identify themselves as having anti-Muslim attitudes.

Researchers from universities across the country polled thousands of people about their attitudes to different cultures and whether they had experienced racism.

The research found around one in 10 Australians identified themselves as prejudiced against other cultures.

About one-quarter of those surveyed said they had anti-Semitic or anti-Asian attitudes, while a slightly larger number were prejudiced against Aborigines.

Anti-Muslim sentiment was even higher, at 48.6 per cent.

Lead researcher Professor Kevin Dunn from the University of Western Sydney says recent political rhetoric has not helped.

"If you continue to speak about a group as a problem, whether that be asylum seekers or Muslims, that will [be] cast within the public mind," he said.

New South Wales was the state most intolerant of Muslims, with just over 54 per cent of people expressing prejudice.

The president of the Council of International Students, Robert Atcheson, says the survey is another blow to Australia's already-damaged reputation.

"If you're an international student that's looking at coming to Australia, or Canada or UK or the US, that could definitely sway their decision to go somewhere else," he said.
 

Source: ABC

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TOOWOOMBA: IF YOU notice the city's streets are cleaner tomorrow, send your thanks to the crews who spent today picking up rubbish from gardens and gutters.

Among the organised groups doing their bit for Clean Up Australia Day were members of Yellaloo Guides, Second Toowoomba Scouts and Joey Scouts.

Joey Scout leader and Clean Up Australia Day organiser John Pugh said the groups had done their bit to make the city beautiful for the past seven years.

"It's a tradition in our scout group," Mr Pugh said.

"The scouts are actually located in the city so we clean up along Ruthven St in the garden beds and laneways and things.

"We started about 8.30am in Russell St."

The group then worked its way along Ruthven St through the Village Green and into Dent St before breaking for lunch at the Margaret St McDonald's.

"We've picked up a lot of bottles and cans," Mr Pugh said.

"It's amazing how much you actually do pick up.

"I'd say we've picked up a couple of tonnes of rubbish."

He said the amount of rubbish beside bins in garden beds was most disappointing.

"This is the garden city and we want it to be beautiful," he said.

"People should think about what they are doing with their rubbish.

"It's really disappointing when we find rubbish in a garden bed when the bin is right next to it," he said.

Source: The Toowoomba Chronicle

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MASJID AL FAROOQ/KURABY MOSQUE

DATE: 6 February 2015

SORRY NO RECORDING THIS WEEK

MASJID TAQWA/BALD HILLS MOSQUE

DATE: 6 March 2015

TOPIC: “Prophet of mercy”

IMAM: Mufti Junaid Akbar

AUDIO (MP3) LINK: http://www.masjidtaqwa.org.au/index.php/downloads/kuthba

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Assalaam Alaikum ,

TUTOR REQUIRED FOR GRADE 9 STUDENT

I am a busy mother with three kids who is looking for a young adult who is either a university student or someone who has experience in teaching/tutoring to tutor my son twice a week in all general grade 9 subjects at our home in Kuraby.

I am looking for someone who can take some responsibility to instil general organisational skills required for high school in my child and be motivational towards his studies.

Please contact me on mob 0411064035 if you are interested and keen to make a difference.
 

Thank you

Dear CCN Editor

I am a year 12 student at The Cathedral College in Rockhampton, Queensland and I wish to conduct an interview with a Muslim or a number of Muslim people via email for my Study of Religion assignment.

We are conducting an investigation into religious beliefs about the afterlife. Would you have one person or more that I could email a list of 10 questions to so that I can find out what they believe and how they live their life as a result of this. The questions are attached. I would need to have this completed by 11th March, 2015. Hoping to hear from you soon.

Kind regards,
S W

[Editor] If any reader is willing to help out here please email ccn@crescentsofbrisbane.org.
 

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PLEASE NOTE

1. All Islamic Event dates given above are tentative and subject to the sighting of the moon.

2. The Islamic date changes to the next day starting in the evenings after maghrib. Therefore, except for Lailatul Mehraj, Lailatul Bhahraat and Lailatul Qadr – these dates refer to the commencement of the event starting in the evening of the corresponding day.

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